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Parents press board on volunteer recognition and ACT test administration during public comment
Summary
Two community members told the Lexington City Schools Board of Education during public comment that the district should do more to recognize volunteers and that a recent ACT administration at Lexington Senior High School had problems that may have affected students’ scores.
Two community members told the Lexington City Schools Board of Education during public comment that the district should do more to recognize volunteers and that a recent ACT administration at Lexington Senior High School had problems that may have affected students’ scores.
Jennifer Leahy, a long-time volunteer who listed multiple volunteer roles across district schools, asked the board to create a Volunteer of the Year award and to recognize volunteers more visibly. "I ask you to please make a Volunteer of the Year award and give it to Jim Fuller Allen," Leahy said, recounting years of work on school projects and events.
Margaret Loda, a parent, described her concern about this spring's ACT administration. Loda said her daughter and other students experienced disruptions during the test — including a proctor who had not previously administered the exam, people entering and exiting during the first 15 minutes, and talking in the room. Loda said she emailed Principal and Mr. Houlihan to request the district void her daughter's test because of the conditions and that Mr. Houlihan told the family the situation would not be considered a misadministration and that the student could retake the test but would need to do so on her own. "My main complaint is that she could retake the test… My main complaint is that she felt he blew her off when I spoke to him later asking to have her test voided due to bad testing circumstances," Loda said.
The board did not take immediate action during the meeting; Loda said she had already contacted school officials. The transcript records the parent exchanges and the district staff response recounted by the parent, but no formal remedy or follow-up motion was made in open session during the meeting.
Ending: The public comment period concluded without board response on either request; the board's public comment rules noted that board members would not respond to public comment speakers during the meeting but that district procedures exist for personnel or program complaints.
